Hilldale and Valley View are Among Only 84 in the USA to be Selected by Character.org - Hilldale Elementary School and Valley View Elementary School were named 2020 National Schools of Character on May 15, 2020. Character.org will honor these schools at the 2021 National Forum to be held in March 2021 in Washington, DC. Character.org, is a national advocate and leader for character development in schools and communities. Hilldale and Valley View were 2 of only 84 schools and 7 districts in 15 states that were certified as National Schools of Character. Hilldale and Valley View are also two of seven schools in the Montville Township Public Schools district. The two Elementary schools join Cedar Hill Elementary, William Mason Elementary, Woodmont Elementary and Robert R. Lazar Middle School as National Schools of Character. Montville Township Public Schools district was also named a District of Character in 2018.

With Schools Closed Through the Remainder of the Academic Year, Teachers and Administrators Visited 310 Seniors to give them Items for  Graduation - MTHS faculty and administrators, along with Montville Township Public Schools Superintendent Dr. René Rovtar, visited the 310 members of the MTHS Class of 2020 to deliver Caps, Gowns, Diploma Covers, and other items such as Honor Cords and Tassels. More than 75 faculty, staff and administrators were on hand to make the deliveries possible. With a student list of between 4 and 15 seniors, the team of messengers set out to distribute the items, and to spend a few moments visiting with the seniors and their families.

Following Review, Information Will be Updated in the Near Future. -  In his daily COVID-19 briefing today, Governor Murphy made some statements indicating a relaxation on some restrictions regarding drive-thru graduation ceremonies.This is encouraging news. Parents are asked to be a patient as district reviews details to evaluate the impact these guidelines may have on end of the year events.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Rovtar Issues Letter to Parents on Directives from Trenton Regarding Virtual Graduation Celebrations

Distance Learning will remain in place through the end of the school year - Governor Phil Murphy announced that New Jersey schools will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year and distance learning will continue through the end of the current academic year.  While it is difficult to accept that we will not be back in our schools and classrooms this year, we must recognize that this decision was made following careful contemplation and consideration of the health and safety of school children, school employees and all of their families.

In Keeping with Distance Learning, Project A.C.E.S., a World-Wide Exercise Event, Will Continue as Student-Led Video Workout - On May 6, 2020, students in quarantine around the globe will click on the http://projectaces.online link and exercise with 5th grade Valley View student leaders: C.J., Nyah, Skyler and Nathan. From the start of its 32 year history, A.C.E.S. has been recognized by dozens of news outlets including: “Sports Illustrated,” “Good Morning America,” and “CBS Sunday Morning.” Everyone in the world is encouraged to participate on Wednesday, May 6, 2020, in the 15-minute Project A.C.E.S. cardio workout​.

Cedar Hill Elementary Teacher One of the First to Appear on NJEA’s New Educational Series: “Still Learning” - As Distance Learning launched in the Montville Township Public Schools, as well as across the nation, Kimberly Kao and her students, were chosen by the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), to be featured in a new educational program called: “Still Learning - Kindergarten Online.”

Distance learning program will remain in place. Thank you to teachers and administrators for outstanding efforts to continue instruction for students. The efforts of parents to facilitate the learning that is taking place in their homes is tremendously appreciated, as well. Please click through to see the full letter sent to Parents/Guardians, Students and Faculty as of April 16, 2020. Thank you.

Children Facing Loss, Neglect, Poverty and Abuse Received a Memory to Inspire International Friendship and Kindness “Creating a kinder world through art” is the motto of The Memory Project. According to The Memory Project website, the organization strives to break cultural barriers, provide children with a unique childhood memory, inspire creativity, and show children living in difficult situations that they are valued. The Memory Project was founded to cultivate a kinder world. Eileen Racioppi’s Visual Art IV students painted portraits for children in Pakistan this past winter. The ten Montville Township High School seniors were among more than 3,000 student artists across the United States of America who participated in The Memory Project’s Pakistan 2020 outreach.­ Recently the MTHS students received a thank you video from The Memory Project. (view video here)

Designations are Awarded to Districts and Schools That Demonstrate an Exceptionally High Commitment and Access to Music Education. Now in its 21st year, the Best Communities for Music Education is presented to school districts that demonstrate extraordinary achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.

Stefanie San Filippo, a teacher at Montville Township High School in Montville, New Jersey, was nominated for the Hannah E. (Liz) MacGregor Teacher of the Year award. Each of the 58 National History Day affiliates may nominate one high school teacher for this award. San Filippo is the senior division nominee from New Jersey. Every nominee for the $10,000 award is a teacher who demonstrates a commitment to engaging students in historical learning through innovative use of primary sources, implementation of active learning strategies to foster historical thinking skills, and participation in the National History Day Contest. All nominees will receive $500, each, as a result of their nominations. The national winner will be announced on June 18, 2020

Music unites, even in times when Distance Learning, due to COVID-19 and Social Distancing, separates students and teachers from classrooms and each other. On Monday, March 30, 2020, Montville Township High School Choral Director Kristen Markowski posted a Virtual Vocal Performance of one of her favorite selections, "Earth Song", as sung remotely by the 22 members of the MTHS Chamber Choir. Though the performers could not assemble as an ensemble, they worked together separately to unite in harmony for their rendition of Frank Tichel's haunting and inspiring work: "Earth Song".

Science Department, Administrators & Facilities Coordinate Contribution to Those on the Front Line - This morning Montville Township High School donated 3000 pairs of Nitrile gloves to Morristown Medical Center.
Over the weekend, "Teacher, James Queen initiated the discussion that led to this donation," said Superintendent Dr. Rene Rovtar.
"After hearing about the dire need of our medical professionals needing PPE, I realized we had a supply of gloves at our high school that we could do without," Queen explained. "I simply suggested this to my Supervisors that it seemed like a viable idea and they all agreed."
Director of Facilities Steven Toth, who is also a First Responder, volunteered to collect the gloves from the school and deliver to the hospital.

This morning, in honor of the launch of the district’s brand new Distance Learning initiative, Rovtar posted her #MustangStrong rap which ended with a message to the entire community:

 “I miss you guys/You know I do/But we’ll be Mustang Strong/And we’ll get through/Be safe everybody.”

The #MustangStrong rap can be viewed here.

Please read this letter for important information. Thank you for your patience as this new instructional plan rolls out. 

During the period of school closure, beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2020, technology questions should be directed to techhelp@montville.net  .

Third Graders Enjoyed the NJ Legislator’s Stories of How a Bill Becomes a Law - – New Jersey State Senator Joseph Pennacchio (R – NJ 26^th), participated in Woodmont Elementary School’s annual READ ACROSS AMERICA celebration on Monday, March 2, 2020. The state Senator read to fifty third grade students at the Montville Township Public Schools’ elementary school in Pine Brook, NJ. While there, Pennacchio explained to Woodmont students how laws are made. He read two stories: DUCK FOR PRESIDENT, by Doreen Cronin, and Peter Barnes’ HOUSE MOUSE, SENATE MOUSE about the important job and challenging responsibilities the Squeaker of the House and the Senate Mouse-jority Leader must balance in making laws.

Only 150 Works of Art Were Chosen Out of 900 Submitted - Artist Abigail Iasso’s ceramic piece, “A Butterflies Touch”, has been selected for the National exhibit at the National Conference on the Education of Ceramic Arts (NCECA). The exhibition will be held in Richmond, Virginia Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 26, 27 and 28, 2020. March is National Youth Art Month.

Throughout March All Students in Grade 4 through 12 will Learn Social Media Safety - On Tuesday, March 31 at 7:00 p.m. Sgt. Tom Rich, a Cybersafety Expert, will present a FREE seminar: ALWAYS CONNECTED. All parents, guardians and all adult Montville Township, New Jersey, community members are encouraged to attend. ALWAYS CONNECTED is a fast paced presentation for parents, guardians and all adult community members to learn about popular social media apps and how to protect children on-line. Those attending will learn how to navigate the most popular media apps. Sgt. Rich is a Cybersafety Expert who has spoken about Social Media Safety to more than 1 million people world-wide. He has been featured on NBC, FOX, CNN and Good Morning America. Sgt. Rich will provide information on how to monitor a child’s social media activity, how to navigate the most popular social media apps, and how to protect children as they learn to navigate the on-line world.

In the event of a prolonged health-related school closure, our Schoology Learning Management System will serve as our primary means of communicating instructional information to students and their families.  Schoology also provides us with a very quick and effective means of communicating with parents on an ongoing basis (snow closures, delayed openings, etc).  Schoology has an app that allows you to gain access through your smart phone. 

Access the Schoology Parent Guide Online

Those recognized were named by their peers to the annual: Governor’s Teacher of the Year, Governor’s Educational Services Professional of the Year and the Princeton University Distinguished Secondary School Teacher programs. “Tonight is our opportunity to recognize our superstars,” said Montville Township Public Schools Superintendent Dr. René Rovtar. “A school district really cannot be successful if we don’t have really excellent teachers and educational services professionals. Tonight we are recognizing the best of the best. These folks have been selected by panels within each school that involve teachers – their peers – parents and administration. We have some wonderful honorees.”

Students, Faculty, Parents and Public Encouraged to Download APP to Phones - Montville Township Public Schools has launched a district-wide APP. The APP allows easy access to district news, calendar event listings, the MTHS athletics schedule, and Genesis Parent Access, as well as the district’s Facebook and Twitter feeds. It is integrated with the district’s website. To download the APP, access the Apple App store or Google Play. Once there,search for: SchoolPointe Stay Connected. After installing select Montville Township Public Schools. https://www.montville.net/Content2/app-information

National History Day® and Pearl Harbor Historic Sites Provide Learning, Research, and All Expenses Paid Trip to Hawaiʻi - MTHS alumna Lexi Hartley and one of her history students from the Lehman Alternative Community School in Ithaca, New York, will join 15 other teacher-student teams from across the U.S. to read books and selected materials, engage in online discussions, and research a Silent Hero®, a military service member who died in World War II and is buried or memorialized at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. In June, the teams will meet in Oʻahu where they will walk in the footsteps of history, and learn firsthand about the impact of World War II in the Pacific. Hartley was the 2011 MTHS Salutatorian.

Hilldale and Valley View Elementary Schools are 2 of only 81 schools from across the nation to be named NEW JERSEY STATE SCHOOLS OF CHARACTER by Character.org. Character.org is a National Character Organization, located in Washington, D.C. Hilldale and Valley View will now be considered for NATIONAL SCHOOL OF CHARACTER designation. Since 2016, four of the district’s other schools have been named both State and National Schools of Character. Those schools are: Cedar Hill Elementary School, William Mason Elementary School, Woodmont Elementary School and Robert R. Lazar Middle School. In addition, the Montville Township Public Schools district received the NATIONAL DISTRICT OF CHARACTER designation in 2018.

Award-Winning Montville Township District Pays $150/Day to Certified Nurses - Montville Township Public Schools is seeking qualified substitute nurses. The district’s daily rate for substitute nurses is $150. Substitute nurses are regularly needed for assignment in buildings and on field trips. Anyone who is interested in becoming a substitute nurse in the Montville Township Public Schools is encouraged to contact June Carle, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent (june.carle@montville.net), immediately.

Lazar Team of 10 Brought Sound Analytical Thinking to the Tournament - Jason Mao landed a perfect 25 out of 25 on the Mathematical Association of America’s American Math Competition (MAA AMC) AMC 8 middle school test. Achieving 100% on the mathematical challenge placed Mao in the top 1% nationally. As a result, Mao, a seventh grade student at Robert R. Lazar Middle School in Montville Township, New Jersey, earned the AMC 8 “Honor Roll of Distinction.”

On-Line and In-Person Kindergarten Registration Must Be Completed Before Friday, February 14, 2020 - Kindergarten Registration for Montville Township Public Schools’ 2020-2021 academic year opens Monday, January 13, 2020. All children of residents of Montville, Pine Brook and Towaco, New Jersey, who have reached the age of five on or before October 1, 2020, are eligible for Kindergarten. Parents must complete both On-Line Registration and In-Person Registration for each child attending Kindergarten. The Registration deadline is Friday, February 14, 2020. Instructions and details regarding the entire Kindergarten Registration process can be found on-line at www.montville.net. For more info go to: www.montville.net/News/kindergarten-reg-2020

First Grade Student Led the “Pennies for Patients” Drive with Donation of $928 - Students, staff and families joined together to "Bring the Change" and surpass the school's annual fundraising goal by nearly $1000. Harper Goodstein, a first grader, had raised $928. Additionally, fifth graders Anna, Brian and Brielle Melzer and first, third and fourth grade students Elizabeth, William and Ella Albanese joined forces and made items to sell. All the proceeds they received were donated to the “Pennies for Patients” campaign. “It made me feel good helping people who needed my help,” Goodstein said. “I only asked a few people and my whole family helped me raise more money.” Money raised for the “Pennies for Patients” campaign helps to fund lifesaving cancer research and provide services for patients, many of whom are children. Services, and lifesaving research, bring help and hope to thousands of people battling cancer.

Award-Winning District Pays $100/Day to Qualified Subs - Applicants must possess a Morris County Substitute Certificate issued by the New Jersey Department of Education. Candidates must also have completed 60 semester hour credits at a regionally accredited college or university and pass the New Jersey Criminal History Background clearance.

Rehberg and two other MTHS students, Maddie Bustamante & Rachelle Philip also landed solos in NJ All-State High School Chorus Performance at November 17 NJPAC Concert

William Mason joins Cedar Hill, Lazar and Woodmont as National Schools of Character, as well as Montville Township Public Schools as National District of Character.